Mine car



A. R. LONG Dec. l, 1931.

MINE CAR Filed Jan. l0, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS.

A. R. LONG MINE CAR Dec., l, 1931.

Filed Jan. l0, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Armisaa H Lang ATTORNEYS.

A. R. LONG Dec. l, 1931.

MINE CAR Filed Jan. lo, 195o. 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR. v Erm@ L# ad R .Ln

ATTORNEYSe A. R. LONG Dec.. l, E931.

MINE CAR Filed Jan. lO, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 y INVENTOR. Rrmmaa .Ll

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES ABMISTAD R. LONG, SCAIRBRO, WEST VIRGINIA MINE GAR IApplication led January 10, 193,0. Serial No. 419,896.

This inventionrelates to improvements in industrial cars, such as mine cars and quarry cars but more particularly mine cars.

The primary object of the invention is the provision ofan improved mine car having a unitary truck construction, with means for mounting a body thereon in such flexible relation that the wheels of the truck will ride eficiently over the tracks of a roadbed without warping the body or transmitting forces;

' to the .body which would be apt to cause destructive strains in the body. Y

y A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved mine car having the body so constructed with respect to the supporting wheels and other parts of the truck that it is possible to place the floor line of the car much lower than in conventional mine cars, and place the body beams much closer to the hubs of the truck wheels than is usual, so that the coal or other article receiving capacity of the body may be made relatively large without the overall dimensions of the car exceeding what might be termed a standard maximum dimension.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for mounting a mine car or other body upon a supporting chassis in such relationithat the load will be o supported in very close proximity to the supporting plane of the wheels.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved body bracing and reinforcing structure.

Other object-s and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of themine car, showing the unitary truck in vits relation to the body of the car.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through thedmproved ,minev car substantially along the center line thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on theline ,f3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the unitary truck l structure, showing the relation in which an end of an axle is associated with a side connecting beam.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end of one of the truck axle connecting bars or beams.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substan-y tially on the line 9 9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken through one of the truck bodies reinforcing and-connecting bracket devices, substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the relation of an improved bracket with respect to, one ofthe main side beams of the car body.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 12-12 of Figure 3.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary end view of a modified axle structure which may be used as a partof the truck, in lieu of the one-piece axle shown in the other views. y

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing an end of the main body of the axle with respect to its detached spindle, showing the re` lation of means to secure the spindle to the axle body. f In' the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred type of the mine car, with the details 'in preferred and modified arrangement, the letter A may generally `designate the limproved mine car, which may consist of a unitary truck or chassis B upon which the improved mine car body C may .be compactly mounted in a compensating, iiexible, and eciently supported relation, for the transportation of maximum loads and quantities of materials.

` which are preferably flush with the bottom beams 18 and 19.

The axles 15 and 16 are Iof identical con? struction, each including a flat, relatively thin but wide body or tie bar portion 25, ta-

Avpered or reduced laterally at its ends. The

ends having integrally connected upwardly extending reinforcing and draft force receiving blocks or shanks 26, which are polygonal in cross section, and the lower surfaces of surface of the body 25. |ll`hey are of generally square cross section, and the opposite side surfaces are parallel. rlhey extend above the plane of the tie body portion 25 of their -respective axles in preferably right angled relation, and have right angled plane surfaces at their inner or axle bodyfacing surfaces. At their outer surfaces, the axle blocks or extensions 26 are provided with spindles 30, projecting in any desired length, which may be of forged steel or other suitable bearing material. rl`he axles 15 and 16, as described, are preferably of one-piece construction, drop-forged. and the extensions 26 are very sturdy, having ample strength for directly receiving the forces incidental to partial support of the load, and pulling of the loaded car. The main function of the body portion 25 is to provide means for stably mounting the truck, and connecting and tying together the spindles and the wheels thereof. it is to be noted that the spindles 30 are cylipdrical in formation, and preferably located near the upper edges of the extensions 26, so that the latter have vertical surfaces 31 at their outer sides below fthe spindles. Parallel surfaces V32, are provided at the inner surfaces of the extensions 26.

Trhe beams 18 and 19 are of identical construction, the same being of relatively great 'height compared to the thickness thereof, and

in cross section preferably being rectangular. These beams, inwardly from their lower edges 35, are vertically slotted' at 36 for receiving the block-shaped draft receiving portions 26 of the axles 15 and 16, in a tight fitting relation; the beams 18 and 19 straddling the supporting block portions 26 of the axles so that the youter faces o'f the beams 18 and 19 lie flush with the surfaces 31 of said block portions 26, as is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. V manently secure the beams 18 and 19 in a stable and accurate relation with respect to the axles. which consist in providing on each spindle 30 a reinforcing, retaining and load supporting plate or member 37, which is appreciably'thicker than the beams 18 or 19; each of said plates preferably being of rec- Means are provided to per-y tangular appearance, although the corners thereof may be beveled if found desirable. These plates or. members 37 are. apertured at 38, and shrunk onto the spindles 36 with their inner sides abutting tightly and flush against the surfaces 31 of the axle offsets 26, as shown in Figure 3. The height of the plates 37 relative to the beams 18 and 19 is such that the top edges of the plates 37 and the adjacent beams 18 or 19 lie flush, and directly receive thereon the car body in a load supporting relation, as will be subsequently mentioned. The plates 37 are per- .manently affixed by shrinking upon the spindles 30 and the beams 18 and 19 are rigidly connected to said plates preferably by riveting, at 41. The beams may be welded to plates 37 if found more` desirable. It is of course understood that the heads of the rivets 41 are countersunk, so that there are no projections at the inner sides of the beams or outer-sides of the plates 37. Narrow ringshaped collars 42 are also shrunk upon the spindles 30 of the axles, in immediate abut men-t against the outer sides of the plates 37; the diameter of the collars 42 being such that they will be snugly but Idetachably rceived within the inner socket passageways 44 of the inside hub extensions 45 of the wheels 46. The latterare conventional in nature, and are supported by means of antifriction thrust bearings, upon the spindles 30, with the track engaging flanges 47 there of lying as close as possible to the load supporting plates 37 and the beams 18 and 19. The proximity in which the wheels may be durably and efficiently mounted upon the ends of the axles with respect to the plates 37 and truck beams 18 and 19 is an important feature of the invention, and the hub extensions 45, of course, movably abut against the outer sides of the plates 37; the washers 42 serving to exclude foreign materials from the bearings within the wheels 46.

As seen from lFigure 8, the beams 18 and 19 may be apertured' at 41EL for receiving the rivets 41. Adjacent their ends, the beams 18 and 19 are formed with vertically elongated openings 5() adaptedto receive suitable means shown in Figure 5,-carried by the body of the mine car, to provide a positive yet compensating connection between the unitary truck and the body.

So far as the truck B is concerned, the above described construction fixedly connects the axles 15 and-16 in definite relation with respect to each other, and with respect to the beams 18 and 19. `The latter are laterally iexible, or susceptible of bending or twisting without fracture or liability of permanent distortion. All parts of the truck are connected permanently together, except that the wheels are detachable from the spindle ends 30. 1This feature is conventional and need not be further described.

sey

The body C is built so that it will snugly conform to the unitary truck structure, for the purpose of increasing the carrying capacity. It` includes the main supporting longitudinal beams 55 and 56, shown in Figy ure 1, which are Z-shaped in cross section,

as is probably bestshown in Figure of the drawings; each of said beams including the aur extensions 62 may be secured as'by b'oltingh or welding to the top flanges 58 of the beams 55 and 56, extending outwardly therefrom for the purpose of giving the car body increased' width. Upright walls 63 are provided at the outer margins of the floor extensions 62. These upright walls 63 may be of any approved height. At. the ends of the car, suitable mine `car bumper construction 64 may be provided. in a durably, reinforced and connected relation with the ends of the longitudnal beams 55 and 56, and with the floor and upright walls of the body of this car, as shown in the drawings, and as other-V wise provided in my co-pendinof application, Serial No. 319.890. 0f cgurse, end walls may be provided for the body, and

an end gate 66 of anyjapproved character' may also be provided.

To properly support and reinforce the extension portions of the body beyond the beams 55 and 56, suitable channel-shaped brackets 70 are provided, having top-walls 71 and depending brace flanges 72. 'I hese parts are assembled as shown` in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, and elsewhere, with the walls 71 beneath the floor extensions 62 in contact therewith, and bolted thereto, as at f7 3. The inner e'ds of the walls 71 are cut out as at 74 to accommodate the flange 58 Vof the adjacent body beam 55 or 56, as the case may be, in order that the inner edges 77 of the flanges 72 may abut against the outer surfaces of the webs or portions 57 of the beams 55 or 56. It is readilyapparent that the vertically positioned brace flanges 72, ydue to their engagement against lthe beams 55 or 56 will support the floor extensions`62 in a cantilever fashion. To further reinforce, support, and maintainy the bottom extensions and the body walls of the car in position, a bracket reinforcing andV connecting member 78 is employed in connection with the brackets' 70, .including a vertical portion 79 shown in Figure 10, abutting against the outer side ofthe web portion 57 of the body beam 55 or 56, and bolt' ed thereto, at 80. The bracket 78 furthermore includes a horizontall reinforcing portion 81 extending beneath and connected with the anges 58 and top walls 71, and being bolted with the latter, as by the bolts 73 above mentioned. The brackets 78 are bent upwardly at the outer ends of the portions 81 and extended at 82 along the outer sides of the side walls -or upright walls 63 of the car body, being securedthereto as by welding, riveting, bolting, or in any other approved manner. Suchl arrangement effectively braces the lateral l'portions of the car body beyond the beams 55 and 56, and directly distributes the forces incident to load directly ontoy the beams 55 and 56 of the body, from whence they are transmitted into `lthe unitary truck in a relationyto be subsequently mentioned. f- For the application of the body C upon the unitary truck B, the former is provided with verticalslots or openings `85, extending upwardly from the bottom of the Z-bars or beams 55 and 56, at points directly opposite one another, for the movable accommodation of thedraft portions 26 of the axles 15and 16. rThese openings 85 are arranged so that the block offsets 26 extend therethrough into the article receiving compartment or chamber of the truck body; caps 87 being riveted or otherwise Vsecured at 88 to provide additional shoulders and surfaces which contact with the block portions 26 of the axles during a car pulling operation to better distribute the forces inc-ident to draft, into the car body.

lThese caps also, revent dust, dirt, and for-r rom passing through the n eign materials openings 85 as an incident of relative move ment of the axle portions therein. With respect to the truck, the portions 57 of the body beams 55 andv56 are so placed that when the body rests upon the axle,vthe outer surfaces of the beams will lie in close spaced relation with the inner surfaces of the beams 18 and 19 of the truck B, as shown in Figure 3. The spaces, designated at 90in Figure v 3, between these facing surfaces of the main beams of the truck and car body, are just sufficient to permit of the lateral tipping of the car body upon the truck, which it is intended shalloccur to prevent eccentric strains in the car body as a result of travel of the truck over irregular tracks. p The lower surfaces of the horizontal'flange portions 58 of the beams 55 and 56 rest directly upon the top edges of the truck beams 18 and 19 and the topy edges of the truck beam reinforcing and load supporting plates or members 37, as shownj in Figure 3 and elsewhere. It is Ythus quite obvious that the weight of the car body, empty or loaded, is transmitted par'- tially through the truck beams 18 and 19 and mainly by the plates 37 into thespindle's and portions 26 of the axles. The edges at the tops of the slots 85 directly rest on the top tention of the axles of the truck in place with i load in the truck is not supported on the body portions 25 of the axles with any .shearing effect.

As will be seen from Figure 12 ofthe draw- -fings, the slots 85 are of greater width than the Widths of the offset portions 26 of the axles received therein; providing sufficient spacing to'admit of quite limited free play of the axles in the openings 85, longitudinally of the car.

The mine car body C, for each axle of the truck B, is also provided with a pair of spaced angle cross beams 95, at the opposite sides of the body portion 25 of each of the axles 15 and 16, secured to the car beams 55 and 56, as by bolts 96, or the cross beams may be spot welded at these locations, or otherwise secured. The cross beams not only laterally brace the body B against buckling, but the spaced, depending vertical flanges 95a thereo-f Y furnish guards to guide and assist in the rerespect to the car body during relative movement between the car body and truck, as a. result of passage of the car over irregular tracks. It is notedy from Figure 12, that the longitudinal side edges of the body portions 25 of the axles are slightly spaced from their facing surfaces of the angles 95a, to admit of the longitudinal play of the car body upon the truck, necessitated by reason of the compensating connection of the body upon the truck.

Referring to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 `of the drawings, .and elsewhere, it is noted that means are provided to positively connect the car body to the truck or chassis, yet to permit of the compensating movement between the body and truck. 'lh'esemeans comprise a plurality of bolts 100,` projecting through suitable openings in the vertical body portions 57 of the beams of the truck body; the head portions of the bolts lying within the body, and the screw threaded shanks 101 thereof extending transversely beyond the outer sides of the side beams of the body, and through the elongated openings 50 in the ends of the beams 18 and 19 of the truck, These bolts 100 are provided with rotatable sleeves or rings 1.03 thereon, disposed within the planes. of the respective openings 50, acting as rollers to facilitate movement between the outer ends of the rollers 103, adjacent the outer sides of the beams 18 and 19, as shown in Figure 5. The washers are sufficiently large that they will not slip through the openings 50, but will retain the parts in the relation shown in Figure 5. The clearance between the outer periphery of the rollers or sleeves 103`at the opposite'sides of the slots or openings 50 in which they operate, is preferably greater than the clearances which the axles have in their fittings in the openin s 85 of the car body, due to the fact that t ere will be some angular deflection of the truck B oil' center with respect tothe body C, at times, which may be considered as an essential feature ofkthe compensating movement. lVhen the body C rest-s upon the truck B in the arrangement above mentioned, shown in Figure 3, it is to'be noted that the rollers 103 are positioned at the. bottoms of their respective openings 50,` so that no shearing or load support ofthe car is brought upon the bolt 100. T he bolts have vertical play in the openings 50, as is quite apparent from Figure 6. Due to the fact that an essential characteristic of the invention is the increased carrying capacity "of the car body, provision is made in the car body to accommodate portions of the wheels 16 of the truck, 'and to this end, as shown in Figure 3 and elsewhere,suitable openings 110 are cut in the floor extensions 62 of the car body, through which the upper portions of the wheels project; these openings 110 being closed by suitable segmental hoods 111, suitably bolted, welded, or otherwise secured to the adjacent floor and wall surfaces of the car body, to completely close off the openings 110 from the coal carrying compartment. It is to be noted from Figure 9 that there is suficient clearance left in the caps 87 to p ermit the compensating play between the car body and truck in the relation mentioned. For economical reasons, and from the standpoint of manufacture, it may be desirable to make the spindle portions of the axle detachable from the other portions of the axle, in order that the former may be constructed of high grade steel or other material, and the latter may be cast or otherwise formed or constructed of cheaper materials. To this end, as shown in Figures 18 and 14, the modified axle be provided, including a flat relatively wide and thin tie bar body portion 115, which at the ends thereof is provided with vertical upwardly extending off.-Y set blocks 116, in a right angled relation therewith, which are relatively heavy and stocky', and provided with polygonal openings 117 transversely therethrou at a location above the top surface of the body 115. The spindle structures may each include a spindle portion 120, of solid form, or other shape if desired, having reduced outer ends 121, and inner integral portions 122 of polygonal cross section. These portions 122 are preferably square, and the Vopenings 117 detachably receive the same therein, preferably with a driven fit. This holds the spindle 120 in proper relation to the normal to the axis of the spindle.

other portions of the axle, anda pin 124 may be employed for preventing detachment of the spindle port-ion of the axle from the offset block 116; the pin being extended through suitable transverse passageways 125 provided in the portions 116 and' 122 of the axle, in a relation which is perfectly apparent from Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings. I

It is to be noted that the hub portion 45 of the truck wheel 46, in each instance, is

very shortand located very close to the plane of the wheel which rides on the rail. Because of the fact that the plates or members 37 are shrunk upon the-'axle spindles, they really comprise part of the axle and extend They very secuiely reinforce the axle at the juncture of the spindles with the block portions 26 of the axles, and prevent any liability of bend- -ing of the axle spindles where the latter join said block portions 26, as is quite apparent. The load is supported directly by the meinbei's 37 and transmittedto the spindles, the shear`comingat approximately the planes where the liub portions 45 of the wheels abut against the outer sides of the plates 37. rIhere will be no bending of the spindles whatsoever, in view of the compacted placement of the'plates 37between the wheel hub and the portions 26 of the axles. It isto be noted that the distance from the outer side of the plate 37 measured along the axis of the spindlel to the plane where the wheel rides upon the rail is very short.Y This arrangement increases the (load carrying eiiciency of the axle .,structure, without 4unnecessary addition to the bulk thereof. It is thus ap parent that the weight of the car and its load is directed into the axle structure closer to the rail than has been heretofore the practice.

l/Vhen the truck is riding over irregularly aligned rails, the compensating movement between the car`body and truck is enabled, without the transmission of destructive strains tothe car body, because the thin connecting beams 18 and 19 of the truck structure will flex with a slight twisting effect at locations somewhere near the midway point between the two axlestructures of the truck.

Various changes in the shape, size,and ar-l rangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described,

without departing from the spirit ofl the invention or the scope of the claims.

1. In a mine car, the combination of a car body, a single unitary truck, means mounting the car body upon the single unitary vtruck with a compensating free floating connection,

and means permitting limited movement of the car'body relative to the unitary truck in a direction longitudinally of the car.

2. A mine car structure comprising a vcar body, a truck including a plurality ofaxles 5 having wheels at the ends of each, means coni necting the axles together so that they will move in substantial unison, and means nonresiliently mounting the car body upon the truck in a limited free floating relation therewith.

a truck structure including an axle, the car 3. In a car, the combination of a car body,

body being directly supported upon the axle so that the latter has free floating action with respect thereto, wheels for the axle, and means remote from the axle for positively connecting the car body with the truck for limited relative movement of the axle with respect to the body. f

n 4. In car body supporting means, the combination off an axle including an elongated bodyportion having enlarged block-like portions rigid at the ends thereof, reduced spindles extending outwardly from said block portions in close axial parallelism with the body portion, wheels rotatable on said s indles, and means on the block portions o the axles for direct transmission of draft forces thereto. ,o

' 5. In means for supporting car` bodies, the combination of an axle having reduced spindles at the ends thereof with shoulders facv ing outwardly in the direction of said spindles, load supporting members fixedly secured to the spindles in abutment against said shoulders and at theitop thereof extending above the-top surface of the axle for receiving a load.

6. In means for supporting car bodies, the

combination of an axle having reduced spindles at the ends thereof with shoulders fac-` ing outwardly in the direction of said spindles, 4load supporting members fixedly secured to the spindles in abutment against said shoulders and at the tops thereof extending above the adjacent top surfaces of the axle, said axle between said lmembers being vertically dropped to a plane below theaxes tween similar ends of the axles for connect` ing the latter together in a unitary arrangement.,

8. Inva truckfor industrial ars,lthe combination of a pair of supporting axles having reduced spindles at the ends of each, the axles having abrupt shoulders facing outwardly in the direction of said spindles, load sup-- porting and axle reinforcing members shrunk on said spindles in engagement against the shoulders of the axles, and beams connecting said axles and longitudinally extended between similar ends of the axles for connecting the latter together 1n a unltary arrangement,

` said beams being relatively thin and having plane surfaces at their inner sides.

9. In a truck for industrial cars, the combination of a pair of supporting axles having reduced spindles at the ends of each, the axles having abrupt shoulders facing outwardly in the direction of said spindles, load supporting and axle reinforcing members shrunk on said spindles in engagement against the shoulders of the axles, beams connecting said axles and longitudinally extended between similar ends of the axles for connecting the latter together in a unitary arrangement, said beams being relatively thin and having plane surfaces at their inner sides, the axles at the beams where the latter rest thereon being heavily formed, and the axles between said heavily formed portions being vertically dropped between said beams.

10. In an industrial car, the combination of a unitary truck including axles, wheels on each of the ends of each of the axles, and

'means connecting the axles together in a fixedly spaced relation, and a car body mounted directly upon the axles of the truck with a limited floating connection.

11. In a car structure, the combination of a truck including spaced axles having wheels at the ends thereof, and. narrow bar-like beams supported upon the axles in close proximity to the wheels, reinforcing means connecting said beams to the axles at the location where the beams are supported thereby, in

a non-movable relation with said axles, and a car body resting upon the upper surfaces of said truck beams at the reinforcingmeans in supported relation thereby.

12. In a car structure, the combination of a truckincluding spaced axles having wheels at the ends thereof, narrow-bar-like beams supported upon the axles in close proximity to the wheels, reinforcing means connecting said beams to the axles at the locations where the beams are associated therewith in a non- Amovable relation with said axles, a car body resting upon the upper surfaces of said truck beams at the reinforcing means in supported relation thereby, the car body extending downwardly along and slightly spaced from 'the inner sides of said beams and resting upon the beams in a relatively movable relation 13. -In a car structure, the combination o a truck including spaced axles having wheels .at the ends thereof, narrow bar-like beams relation thereby, the car body extending 14. In a car, the combination of a construcl tion including spaced axles, wheels on the axles, and longitudinal side flat bar beams connecting the axles at similar ends immediately adjacent the inner sides of said wheels, and a car body including beamsmounted on' the upper edges of said truck beams and including compartment providing portions extending downwardly between the beams of thetruck and outwardly over the wheels of vthe truck. f

15. In a car, the combination of a construction including spacedmaxles, wheels on the axles, longitudinal side iiat bar beams connecting the axles at similar ends `immedi ately adjacent the inner sides of said wheels, a car body including beams mounted on the upper edges of said truck beams and including compartment providing portions extending downwardly between the beams-of the truck and outwardly over the wheels of the truck, and means connecting the car body-in said relation to the axles of the truck with a limited floating connection.

16. In a car truck, the combination of spaced axles, wheels rotatable at the outer ends of the axles, the axles at the inner sides of the wheels being formed to receive shearing action of a load thereon and having heavy portions, longitudinal side beams connecting similar ends of' the axles each formed with vertical slots extending upwardly from the bottom edges thereof receiving the heavy portions of the axles therein, and reinforcing and load supporting members fixedly secured `on the axles and surrounding said axles ad- ]acent said heavy portions and rigidly attached with said beams.

17. In a.car, the combination of a truck structure including supporting beams rigid therewith, a car body mounted on the truck structure with a free floating connection, said beams having vertically elongated openings therein, and means connected with the car body extending into the openings of the beams and movable therein to limit the extent to which the car body may move relative to the truck.

l18.y In a car, the combination of a truckll structure including supportingbeams rigid therewith, a car body mounted on the truck structure with a free floating connection, said beamshaving vertically elongated openings therein, means connected with the car body extending into the openings of the beams and movable therein to limit the extend to which the car body may move relative to the truck,

said last mentioned means including bolts fixedly carried by the car body extending through the openings of the beams, antifriction rollers on the bolts adapted to engage the walls of said openings, and nuts and washers on the bolts preventing' dislocation of the rollers from within said openings.

19. In a car body, vthe combination of longitudinal L,Z-beams each including vertical web or body portions, upper outwardly extending flanges and lower inwardly extending flanges, car floor portions mounted onthe lower inwardly extending flanges, extension car floor portions mounted on the upper outwardly extending flanges and extending laterally outwardly from said beams, the car body below the upper outwardly extending flanges of said beams lbeing unob,

structed, said beams having slots extending upwardly through the lower flanges and partially through the web of the beams, a truck structure including spaced axles, narrow flat bar beams connecting similar ends of the axles, means reinforcing the bar bea-'ms adjacent the points at which they engage the axles,xwheels on said axles, the outwardly extending flanges'of the car body beams resting on the top edges of the beams of the .truck with portions of the axles adjacent the wheels non-rotatably received in the slots of the car body beamsthelcar body resting in said relation on the axles in a vertically floating relation with respect to the truck.

20. In a car body of the class described, the combination of spaced longitudinal main beams, a bottom connected with the lower ends of thebeams, extension floors connected withL the upper ends of the beams yand extending laterally outwardly, inverted channel braces secured to said extension floors and having vertical brace flange portions normal to the extension floors and in abutment at their inner endsl against the main beams, the car body having upright side walls at the outer margins Aof the extension floors, and bracing members located between the] flanges of the channel members and attached to the main beams, means connecting each bracing memberlast mentioned to theI channel braces and to the extension floor, said bracing mem axles, said apertures being of polygonal crossr section, the spindle being of higher grade Inaterial than the main body of the axle and having a non-rotatable polygonal end forcefitted' into the opening of the upright extension of the axle body, and means positively securing said axle inthe relation mentioned in the opening of said extension.

22. In a car truck the combination of an axle having heavy draft portions with a light'connecting portion therebetween, said heavy draft portions having reduced spindles extending outwardly normal thereto so that shoulders are provided on the heavierl portions facing outwardly in the direction of said spindles, load supporting plates rigidly aflixed on said spindles in surface abutment with said shoulders, and wheels rotatably' said draft receiving portions at the outer sides thereof having reduced spindles with shoulders at the juncture where said spindles extend therefrom, load supporting plates rigidly aflixed on said spindles in' surface abutment with said shoulders, wheels rotatably mounted on said spindles including V short. hubs at the inner sides thereof in sliding abutment with the outer sides of said load supporting plates, and thin flexible connecting beams fixedly secured with the draft receiving portions ofsaid axles at similar ends of the axles in rigidly aflixed relation with the load supporting plates adjacent thereto.

A 24. In a car, the combination of a truck structure including a laterally flexible frame and track engaging wheels at opposite ends thereof, a car body, and means mounting the carbody upon the truck structure so that the truckframe may be laterally flexed without imparting flexure stresses to the car body.

25.`In a car 'the combination of a truck structure including a laterally flexible frame and track engaging Wheels at opposite ends thereof, a car body, and means mounting the car body upon the truck structure'and connected therewith for limited relative move ment vertically and longitudinally with respectlto the truck structure so that the truck frame may flex without imparting flexure stresses to the car bodyfu L 26. In a mine car, the combination ofy a car body, a single unitary truck, means mounting the car body upon the'single unitary truck with a compensating free floating action, and means Lconnecting the car body upon the truck for limited relative movement `vertically fand longitudinally with respect to the truck.

A27; In a car, the combinationof a truck structure including supportin -beams rigiu therewithL a car body mounte on the truck, structure with a free floating connection, said beamshaving vertically elongated openings transversely therethrough, and horizontal bolts carried by the car body releasably eX- tending into the elongated openings of the beams and movable therein vertically and horizontally to limit the extent to which the car body may move relative to the truck.

ARMISTEAD R. LONG. 

